A record number of first home buyers are relying on their parents in order to scrape up enough cash for a deposit.

Figures from Australia show more than half of first home buyers needed family help - up from just over three percent in 2010.

Squirrel Mortgages CEO John Bolton told Mike Hosking it's much the same here.

"The criteria that banks are using to approval loans are tougher, and of course with the increase in house prices the amount first home buyers are having to borrow has gone up a lot."

READ MORE: Up to 90 per cent of first-home buyers relying on parents

He says it's a lot more prevalent in Auckland.

"With the LVR restrictions and first home buyers having needed up to 20 per cent deposit in Auckland, that's a big number."

Figures from Mike Pero Mortgages show 60 to 70 per cent of New Zealand's first home buyers had parental help.

For those under 30-years-old, the proportion jumped to 80 to 90 per cent.

LISTEN TO JOHN BOLTON TALK WITH MIKE HOSKING ABOVE